Opinion: Mzee’s arrogance towards AGOA…

I need to advise you not to be over-concerned by the recent actions by the American Government in discouraging their companies from investing in Uganda and on removing Uganda from the AGOA list” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (05.11.2023).

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is an opportunity for the businesses in Uganda to export products or produce, raw material and others to the United States of America on unique terms. Which has been beneficial for other nations. While the National Resistance Movement (NRM) haven’t been able to develop or follow the terms or conditions for such is another matter. As we know the Kenyans are much more thrifty and has set the standard on these matters. That’s maybe why the President is so arrogant and brushes it off.

A key aspect in the letter from U.S. President Joe Biden on the 30th October was this:

Despite intensive engagement between the United States and the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda, these countries have failed to address United States concerns about their non-compliance with the AGOA eligibility criteria.” (Biden, 30.10.2023).

The key term here is “non-compliance” and meaning the Ugandan authorities or government itself is breaching the agreement, which is reason for the opportunity to trade within the framework of AGOA. The Ugandan government might disagree with these conditions or terms, but has to comply to be eligible in the first place. That’s the rule that AGOA sets on anyone and they just have to comply. It is as simple as that.

However, Museveni wants it his way…

Uganda, under the NRM, is and will succeed, regardless of what some of the external actors and internal detractors do. The further good news, is that not all the Western Countries’ actors are of the same arrogant attitude. Many, actually, either agree with us or believe in the correct principles of live and let live. Even in the colonial times, some Western actors supported our anti-colonial struggle. People like Fenner Brockway, Dingle Foot, Olof Palme, etc., supported us” (Museveni, 05.11.2023).

The U.S. legislation of AGOA is a “new” one in some senses, as it only dates back to 2020. It isn’t a colonial relic or a mechanism from the days of slavery. No, it is a modern one, which has one important aspect.

That is explained like this: “The legislation significantly enhances market access to the US for qualifying Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. It does that by allocating a special program indicator (‘D’) to approximately 6,800 tariff lines in the US tariff schedule, which allows US importers to clear such goods – sourced from eligible African countries – duty-free under AGOA” (AGOA – About AGOA).

This explanation is stating one fact, which the businesses of Uganda misses out on. They will loose out on favourable tariffs when exporting to the U.S. Market. Meaning the prices of exporting will go up and the viability to enter the market will be much tougher. On the short-term its only the ones supplying and exporting the U.S. under these terms that is hit today. However, in the long run… the ones who wants or have a chance. They will either be to expensive or to much red-tape to get there. Which isn’t better for development or trading in general.

The AGOA and principals of AGOA could be beneficial for Ugandan businesses. Especially, if export businesses and the ones who has value-added enterprises wanted to significantly enter a capitalistic market and ensure possibility of selling on a large scale. Because, that what you do, if you get a shot.

We see that the President doesn’t value this and for his often speaking of value-addition. This here is the opposite and it isn’t clever. Neither using arrogance or colonialism. The AGOA is about an opening to a market and ability to trade without to many hurdles. The AGOA has stipulations, but if you adhere to them. You get prospects of entering a market, which gives you possible profits. Therefore, you are foolish to let this one slide. However, that is what the President does and he doesn’t mind.

Actually, the President isn’t concerned… and that is telling. Peace.

The United States Trade Representative – Executive Office of the President letter to Ugandan Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Hon. Francis Mwebesa on “AGOA” (31.10.2023)

Teso Affairs: The failure of Soroti Fruit Factory Part III – Who are they, Mzee?

From one acre of apples, you can get a lot of money. The problem was on our side: planning. We tried to build a fruit factory in Soroti, but it was poorly built, I think they stole the money. That is why I was now struggling with Olivia to see whether we can get private investors” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (02.11.2023).

The Republic of Korea invested 8 million dollars towards the construction of the factory, equipment installation and training of Ugandan staff to operate the factory. The Ugandan government contributed 2.2 million dollars. The Ugandan contribution catered for land acquisition and other utilities” (David Tumusiime & Ddumba Lawrence – ‘KOICA sponsored Soroti Fruit factory ready to open doors for business’ 18.04.2019).

When hearing the quote from the President. My mind boggled for a minute. Who are they?

Is it the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) or is it the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC)? The Ugandan Government have invested into the Soroti Fruit Factory for years… So, who are “they”?

When the President speaks about planning, that has been proven by a Committee Report from the Parliament last year (2022). That report stated the Factory was built for another type of fruit than the preferable or the ones that is mostly produced in the region. So, the government through UDC and KOICA invested in Mangos, but the Teso Sub-Region is known for oranges. Therefore, why did you do this in the first place).

The second report last year (2022) stated the Factory had 2 year old orange concentrate, but didn’t know what to do with it. Neither had the factory the manpower or the storage to have fruits from the regions farmers. Therefore, the factory itself isn’t able to add value to the agricultural sector. Neither does it has a packing line or other things it needs to make tradeable juices. Which is one of the massive ways to trade and use fruit. Alas, another proof of the lack of planning for the ones who built it.

We know that the Government of Uganda has budgeted funds for the Soroti Fruit Factory for years, but nothing has improved. There been plenty of budget posts and investments from the state. Not like they only built it and forgot about it. No, there been steadily funds for it. However, nothing has helped…

It is just strange that the President says someone stole funds, but not mentioning who… when the state and others was involved. There was surely lots of stakeholders… and the digging will find skeletons in the closet.

The Teso Sub-Region and their farmers deserves better. The citizens in general who has lost money from the public coffers. The state reserves and foreign investors who also spent funds did so to no avail. The promise of development and profits haven’t occurred. Not only lacking planning, but also accountability.

We can wonder who is “they”… and why he said “they”. Now we can just await if someone will ever find “them” and take “them” in. Peace.

Opinion: Mzee has become a colonial overlord grabbing land in the North…

Government land- Anybody occupying government land (Aswa ranch, Lakang, land acquired for the Madvhani group, etc.) must leave with immediate effect but in any case not later than 3 weeks from today” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 03.11.2023).

Today, we can acknowledge with certainty that the Government of Uganda (GoU) lays claims to land and expropriate it without any consideration, hesitation or plans for the ones living on it. This after years of stalemate and clashes. Because, the state has no answers and only beholden to the companies or foreign investors who “bought” the land.

That’s how the National Resistance Movement (NRM) operates. They are now giving Apaa Village three weeks to move. Others will follow in the Acholi sub-region. As the interests of Kampala/Entebbe is more important than the livelihoods or the pastoralist societies of the North. That is the message I am getting from the President.

He gives the citizens three weeks to relocate, but offers no securities, no basic ways to find new homes or land to settle on. The President is relocating families and villages all for the benefit of a few chosen ones. That’s what his doing and he has no plan or structure in place to give them shelter or a way to make a living.

What the President is now issuing is a case for the Madvhani Group, which have made agreements with the state back in the mid 2000s or around 2006 to be exact. There been plenty of setbacks and pushback on the deal. However, the state has continued and persistent that the group was to takeover 40,000 hectares of land in Amuru district and build Amuru Sugar Works.

While the mentioning of Apaa Village was to sell it to a South African Investor Bruce Martin so he got his own gaming reserve and hunting ground in the area. That was done in 2005 and continued to this day.

Another mentioned case was the sale of Aswa Ranch to the Libyan government in 1998. That’s why we know the state has worked on these cases for years and now suddenly only give a staunch warning.

That’s deliberate and a scare tactic, as there are no mechanisms or anything in place to safeguard the civilians here. Everywhere that the state has sold land. They are only becoming internally displaced people (IDPs) with nowhere to go. While the investors get prime real-estate and get huge chunks of land. That is hurting to know and the President should know better, but he has promised and the investors wants their loot. Therefore, he has to do something, because his not winning by the years going by. His not getting younger either, so he cannot enjoy the spoils if the assets and the land isn’t sold.

That is something we have to consider here, as the President just directs and orders like a colonial master over the sub-region. Where the public are just supposed to listen and if not… they will suffer consequences. The ironies of that, if they do listen… where should they go? Where and what has the state to offer them?

They have just lost everything and what they knew… so that some foreign investors could grab land in Acholiland. That’s the gig here and its infuriating. It just shows the arrogance and the entitlement of the government. As it just takes, take and doesn’t question its own behaviour here.

Acholi deserves better. They do… they are being sold for shiny objects and left out with nothing. While the President and his inner-circle is getting a piece of the action. Peace.

Opinion: You can apparently besiege a place, but not open it…

“I blocked NUP from unveiling its Kavule Headquarters because president Museveni shall be in Kawempe tomorrow and you know he needs people to be ferried to his processions. When we allow NUP to proceed, Museveni may not have people to attend his function,”~Kawempe Dep. RCC Ndidde” (The Kampala Journal, 01.11.2023).

Uganda Police and the army earlier today deployed heavily at the have deployed heavily at the new opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) offices in Kawempe Division where the party president Robert Kyagulanyi and other members had planned to officially open today” (STV Uganda, 02.11.2023).

The Uganda Police Force, the high ranking officials and whoever was in-charge of the security detail surrounding the new Headquarters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) has lost the plot. Seriously. It is just dumb and the reasoning was foolish.

Telling 48 hours in advance that the NUP had to find another date to get accommodated too. Because, the authorities and the security couldn’t handle it. Alas, here is problem with saying that. When you in advance of the scheduled opening has besieged the plot and the compound. In such a fashion that no entry is possible. That’s what the authorities did today and they had plenty of guards, police officers and soldiers alert. Meaning, the authorities could have ensured the safety of the NUP and let them open the Party Headquarters. However, that wasn’t the order and that’s why the Party was forced to wait to tomorrow.

The authorities aren’t that wise here. Neither are they showing any finesse. The President is making himself look unpopular too. As he knows the people would surround the NUP Headquarters and not at his function. That’s why his appointee had to serve him and block the NUP from opening up their own offices. It just shows the ironies of life and how “one man” rules them all.

This wasn’t to safe-guard or benefit the people. No, this was all done to serve His Excellency. Not to secure and make it right for the NUP. The state and the President had a plan, which was so important that everything else had to stop. Because, if it didn’t he would look humiliated and alone. The state handlers and the servants of the President couldn’t let that happen. Which is why the NUP had to pay a price and open their offices on another day.

It is just really amusing that the RCC and the Authorities stated they didn’t have the manpower to secure and facilitate the opening. When they had enough soldiers and police officers to ensure a rigged election out there. They had enough officers to stop all movement and traffic, if they wanted too. However, the same guards, officers and soldiers couldn’t ensure the safety and the opening. That is just ridiculous!

The emperor is naked. The foolishness of the oppressor has no end. This is the democracy and the freedoms that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) abides by. It is how they roll and people just have to accept it. Peace.

Uganda: PACEID – Statement from the Office of Odrek Rwabwogo, Chair of Uganda’s Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports & Industrial Development (PACEID) – (01.11.2023)

The Disciples of Odrek Rwabwogo letter to the Chairperson of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (30.10.2023)

Opinion: Alien Skin better entertain…

I’m going to stop doing music in December, I’ve done everything, it’s time for me to pave the way for young Artists, I don’t want to be a dictator like other musicians. I will quit music but that does not mean am quitting fame. I will be there even after music, I’m planning to join politics, don’t be surprised when you see my political party called Fangone Unity Platform soon” – Patrick Mulwana aka “Alien Skin” (The Kampala Journal, 20.10.2023).

I don’t know why Alien Skin has turned on Bobi Wine, but he has and with massive online efforts too. Making a mockery of the People Power Movement and their political party the National Unity Platform (NUP.

That’s why suddenly Alien Skin comes with the Fangone Unity Platform (FUP) as a challenger to NUP. Which is so childish, but also so foolish… a briefcase party against a certified opposition party.

Alien Skin hasn’t done edu-tainment, but just pure entertainment. Neither has he shown any finesse or gratitude for the levels he has hit. Instead, he is acting high and mighty. The levels of arrogance is on another level, actually.

This musician thinks very much about himself and his company. He thinks his the next big thing and the ones to conquer all stages. A man who will follow the predecessors and become huge. Might even think he will have hits like Jose Chameleone or Bebe Cool. Heck, might even score a few like Bobi Wine and others. However, that is to early to tell…

What his doing now… is being a pawn and a fool. Playing at events for Muhoozi and being blunt about Bobi Wine. That is serving the interests of the First Son and alienating a lot of the ones who would feed him. Unless, he wants to be a “gig artist” for Muhoozi and do like Bebe Cool has done in recent years. Just followed on the campaign trail and gotten paid for serving a political purpose. Instead of being able to tour by your own self.

You know it is bad… when they call you Muhoozi Plant and such. That’s when you know things are going south. That’s what some are saying in the grapevine and the streets are talking. If it is true that the man has become public, because Muhoozi has a plan with him. Well, that will be his loss and he will not able to forgive himself.

While being on the ballot or creating his own party is fine itself. He will loose and look like a drunkard. That’s all up to him. His not viable candidate or a man of a message. Just another public figure dabbling into politics. He can become like Butchaman or Jennifer Full Figure. They also did this to no avail. Accepted to play a role for the government and didn’t gain scraps for it. The same will happen to Alien Skin, if he does…

Alien Skin is useful right now and the drama he causes are an asset. However, that isn’t valuable for long. It will be played out and he will be as important as Ashburg Katto. That’s where things are going.

Patrick should know better, but his to arrogant to see or think that far. He rather be on this train and hope the journey never ends. Peace.

Opinion: The Republic is building Ghost Dams…

“What we found was that some of the dams that are being talked about are not even existing, for example Paylong dam which is supposed to help the community of Kotido isn’t even existing. What we saw at the site of Pylong is some pond with weeds grown all over the place and I think that one was constructed by the Ministry of Water. There is also one in Abim district that one isn’t functional at all and I think the work wasn’t completed and those facilities were never handed over to the district” – Janet Okori-Moe, Chairperson Agriculture Committee (27.10.2023).

MPs on Parliament’s Agriculture Committee have discovered ghost irrigation dams and valley tanks in Karamoja and Teso sub-regions, despite Government releasing billions of shillings for the construction of these dams in order to foster agriculture in the two regions” (Parliament Watch, 27.10.2023).

For over a decade I have heard of ghosts. These was “ghost” teachers, civil servants and sometimes even whole “ghost” schools. There been mentioned of “ghost” projects and others too. Where development was paid out and nothing was delivered. In just having additional budget posts or juicing up the stats to “cover a shortfall”. No, it is a deliberate act to siphon funds.

Today it was revealed yet another trick. The Republic is now building ghost dams. The Women Representative of Abim, Janet Okori-Moe MP says so. She knows her district and was re-elected on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket in 2021. This is her second term as a legislator and MP. Certainly, she would know and it’s a compellign story.

This is a systemic problem and manufactured by the inner-circle. Because, the system is creating these ghosts. Both on local levels and on national ones. Where Ministries and others are benefiting. They create these out of thin air and pockets the funds. Because, no one is paid to work, build or make it operational. No, it is just smoke and mirrors. There is nothing to it and the money is paid in full. The funds are allocated and dispersed. While the end-product is non-existing.

Just imagine billions of shillings are paid out and nothing in return. That means someone is eating and having a blast. These funds are spend, but not on the dams or the valley tanks. These projects or development projects was meant for the public good. They were meant to help the people of Abim, Kotido and Karamoja, but they never got to see it.

This is thieving from the ones who has none. Blatant and disgraceful. They get called “ghosts” and made up cute. However, this here is theft and stealing funds from the public coffers. The funds which had an intended purpose, but got spent elsewhere. They just went “missing” and the proverb of “missing funds” is viable in the Republic.

Just as there is missing funds, there are ghosts and these are connected to one principal. That there are money to take and gullible people who will not care if they loose out. The takers take and they are the spenders. Money is taken and used on other things. While the budgets and the Ministry had promised one thing. Suddenly, a need elsewhere appeared and the “ghosts” was created.

They can try to spin-it or make up stories. The fact is that billions of shillings was eaten. Some one within the inner-circle and close ties to power got a pay-day. They used the “ghosts” to fill a void and get paid. That’s just how the day goes and this was a heist. A heist happening in broad daylight and nobody really saw. It was done in the offices and within the elites. Those was the ones benefiting and having a blast.

While the up-country people never got see anything. Peace.

Opinion: The “drones” haunts the chambers of Parliament…

There is no amount of legislation that can atone for murders and disappearances, whether we are able to legislate and pass a bill on a daily basis, while the targeted beneficiaries of these legislations are being abused by Government and some of them are killed, then we are legislating in a void and we can never claim to be serious legislators” (…) “Lawmaking and legislation must be consequential and we can’t engage in inconsequential actions as legislators from the opposition, therefore, I want to assure Ugandans that these demands are legitimate and they constitute a top priority for us as the Opposition” – Leader of the Opposition Mathias Mpuuga (26.10.2023).

As the National Resistance Movement or the Government of Uganda wants the world to believe. That nothing shady or murky is going on. That the opposition is only making up fictional tales and has records of missing persons, but they are never revealed or re-appearing. There are unknown amount of people associated with the opposition that is kept incommunicado or without trial as political prisoners.

The “drones” or “panda gari’s” comes in the shadows and without warrants. The security agents just picks up people and take them away to unknown destinations. While family and friends has no clus for why. They are partaking in politics and activism, and that’s the sole reason for their demise. This is the state and how the authorities operates. People are gone for years without proper court cases, put in trial sometimes by court martial and some left in the dungeons (“safe-houses”). That is a well known “secret” and ungazetted ones are there too.

The security agencies are operating in the shadows and are happy to oblige to orders. Heck, reports are that high ranking officials that is offended or displeased with citizens has paid of agents to kidnap and silence critics. That’s how the system works now and the law enforcement is happy to do the dirty work.

Therefore, the words of Mpuuga is needed to be said. The boycott was necessary, but calling it off before anything substantial was done by the NRM is futile. The Deputy Speaker gave Gen. David Muhoozi a month to come and address the Parliament again. Meaning the Minister and General can ease off and have bought him time. In such time that people forget this and hope another scandal arrives. While the political prisoners continues to linger in prisons or dungeons like they currently do.

The LoP is in between a rock and a hard place. He has little to no space to manoeuvre, as the minority and it has little consequences what he does. That’s why the government spokesperson and others call it drama. I understand that… when they are so softly returning to the plenary and the boycott called off so quickly. The leader of the opposition could at least tried a bit longer and piled on the pressure.

Yes, his statements and addresses in parliament is fine. However, the NRM, the authorities and the “high above” won’t care. They will continue like yesterday and the yesteryears. There is no reason for them to stop. This system is functioning and the ones suffering is the dissidents. The elite and the ones eating don’t mind. They are not seeing the price and the sacrifices. These are only enjoying the perks and privileges of being on “top”. So, why should they bother about the dark side?

Well… Mpuuga is in a battle he cannot win. The NUP and the other opposition parties is in the same realm. The authorities and the NRM can just play around and continue with their persistent impunity and injustice. That’s what they do and that’s what keep the regime alive. Peace.